Protected Areas

In Romania, the protected areas cover 1,254,660 ha, meaning 5.26%.
There are 844 protected areas with status of:

• national parks – 298,465 ha (23.82%): Rodna Mountains, Ceahlau Mountains, Bicazului-Hasmas Gorge, Macinului Mountains, Piatra Craiului Mountains, Cozia Mountains, Retezat Mountains, Domogled-Valea Cernei Mountains, Nera Gorge – Beusnita Gorge, Semenic – Caras Gorge etc.

• natural parks – 312,378 ha (30.25%): Vanatori-Neamt, Balta Mica a Brailei, Bucegi Mountains, Gradistea Muncelului – Cioclovina in Sebes Mountains, Portile de Fier, Apuseni Mountains. Bucegi Mountains and Apuseni Mountains offers the best conditions for active tourism (hiking and climbing trips, climbing, mountain bike – especially in Apuseni Mountains, speleology, mountain skiing). They are all included in the UNESCO world heritage. Portile de Fier area is impressive through the historic testimonies and the gorgeous natural potential offered by Mehedinti Mountains (speleology).
• biosphere reserve – 645,313 ha, 580,000 ha in the Danube Delta (45.93%): the Danube Delta, Retezat Mountains, Rodna Mountains .
• scientific reserves – 100.217 ha.
• monuments of nature – 2.174,8 ha.
• natural reserves – 122,569 ha, on different domains: speologic reserves, complex reserves, fauna reserves, geomorfic reserves etc.

Soon, other 6 natural parks (179,000 ha ) and 42 natural reserves will be constituted.

In Romania, the access in the protected areas is free, excepting some strictly protected ecological areas where the access is either limited or prohibited.

Flora and fauna species protected by law are added to all these. The best examples are: Pietrii Craiului pink (Dianthus callizonus), edelweiss (Leontopodium alpinum), orchid (Nigritella rubra), globe flower (Trollius europaeus), brown bear (Ursus arctos), lynx (Lynx lynx), chamois (Rupicapra rupicapra), bison (Bison bonasus).